The new-for-2019 Lynk & Co 03 TCR has started a test in Portugal, with new drivers Thed Björk and Yvan Muller behind the wheel of the car at the Autódromo do Estoril, following on from a test a few days ago at the Mantorp Park circuit in Sweden.

The Chinese car has been built by Geely Group Motorsport, and will be raced by Cyan Racing in the 2019 World Touring Car Cup, with Björk and Muller the first two drivers confirmed for the Swedish team.

Cyan Racing ran Björk to the 2017 World Touring Car Championship title in a Volvo S60 TC1, and will run under the Lynk & Co Cyan Racing banner next year as the two YMR drivers look to win the title in the car’s debut season.

“The feeling to turn the first laps of an all-new race car is fantastic and I must say the Lynk & Co 03 TCR has lived up to my expectations,” said Björk. “Geely Group Motorsport has done a great job of development so far and we can’t wait to get going as we no doubt are facing one of the toughest seasons in the history of touring car racing in 2019.”

Geely Group Motorsport head Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin added:

“We are happy with the progress so far and the car has been reliable in the first tests. The evaluation programme goes according to plan and we have a couple of intense months ahead of us to secure a competitive car for our customer teams.”